Mount Stewart Visit

Charles Villiers has been a great friend and supporter of this blog for a number of years.

He has sent me invaluable information pertaining to the Stewarts, Marquesses of Londonderry, and, in particular, his close relationship with his beloved grandmother, the late Lady Mairi Bury.

Charles is a great-grandson of the 7th Marquess and Marchioness of Londonderry.

He recently visited Mount Stewart estate, near Newtownards, County Down (where, incidentally, he and I were both born), with his cousin Theresa (the Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP) and his friend, Jonathan Caine (the Lord Caine).

Charles explains,

"WE all were visiting Mount Stewart together, which was a plan we jointly made a couple of weeks previously.

We walked around the Lake, up to Tir Nan Og which had been left unlocked in order for me to see the recently installed Headstone on my mother's grave for the first time (following her burial at Mount Stewart in 2015).

Then we went up to the Farm because Jonathan wished to see all of the eighteenth century farm buildings which are unchanged since the time of the famous statesman Lord Castlereagh growing up at Mount Stewart.

The farm buildings are currently being re-roofed by the National Trust, after the NT bought the Farm last year from my late grandmother's Trustees.

The oak trees in the demesne which are known to have been planted by Castlereagh himself.

After seeing the Farm, we then walked up to the Temple of the Winds, which neither Jonathan nor Theresa had visited before, and enjoyed the views from the Temple across Strangford Lough towards Scrabo Tower and the site of the swimming pool marked by its lone palm tree.

The two photographs were taken by Theresa's bodyguard from the Close Protection Unit, and afterwards we all lunched at the National Trust's Bay Restaurant.

Theresa and I are cousins because we are each descended from two brothers of the 4th Earl of Clarendon, namely the Hon Thomas Villiers MP (me) and the Hon Edward Villiers (Theresa).

Some people may think the Villiers family is wholly English, though in fact it has long standing Irish connections dating back to Theresa's and my direct ancestor, Sir Edward Villiers MP (1585-1626), who was appointed Lord President of Munster; and who lived, died, and was buried in Youghal, County Cork."

The Ancient DJ

Think I'm alluding to Jimmy Savile? Or the oldest swinger in town?

Try again.

Timothy Belmont alludes to the venerable old dinner jacket, a mere 83 years old.

It's priceless, to me at least. Everything has a price, I suppose.

I wouldn't accept a thousand pounds for my old dinner jacket; nor two thousand pounds.

The eager bidder would be required to pitch considerably higher. It's not for sale anyway.

It was made in August, 1933, consisting of heavy flannel or Barathea wool, with one button fastening at the front; ventless at the back.

It boasts a very wide, ribbed silk lapel and has four, functional buttons on each sleeve; one inside pocket and two outside pockets.

First published in June, 2008.

New DL

APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY LIEUTENANT

Mrs Joan Christie OBE, Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim, has been pleased to appoint:

Dr Stephen Peter FITZGERALD CBE

Crumlin

County Antrim

To be a Deputy Lieutenant of the County, her Commission bearing date the 19th October, 2016.

Joan Christie

Lord Lieutenant of the County

La Scarpetta da Mariò

I've been yearning for some good, fresh pasta lately and there just happens to be a fair selection of Italian restaurants in Corralejo.

Several years ago I dined at a charming little restaurant called La Scarpetta da Mariò, tucked away discreetly in a quiet shopping centre close to the town centre.

Mariò himself was master of ceremonies, to the extent that he personally attended to patrons, spending a few minutes reciting the special meals available.

Quite a rigmarole in fact.

La Scarpetta moved to new premises more than a year ago, at the Plaza, 62, Avenida Nostra Senora del Carmen.

The new restaurant is considerably larger and, as a consequence, less intimate.

I like it, though it has lost a little of the former premises' charm; and Mariò has ceased the rigmarole (which I don't mind, frankly).

The new restaurant was very quiet when I arrived, though I tend to dine early so this was perhaps to be expected.

I was shown to a table at the far end initially.

I have experienced this treatment before, so before I settled there I scanned the room for a preferable table and noticed one I fancied at the window.

Seated at the window table, I perused the Italian menu and ordered the Torta Sfoglia agli Asparagi , fresh asparagus cooked in butter, with Parmesan and ricotta cheese, aromatic truffle, encased in a rich puff pastry.

For my main course I had the Tagiatelle ai Pomodorini Calabresi e Porcini, pasta with sun-dried cherry tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, a bit of chilli pepper, porcini mushrooms and basil.

The asparagus tart was very good: moist, light, full of flavour; with a fine little garnish and sweet balsamic vinegar.

The pasta was good, too: fresh, appropriately cooked, complemented by the sun-dried tomatoes and basil.

The bill, including a soft drink, came to €20.10.